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Carbarn Comment
by Harold Ahlstrom The following are notes from railroad historian Harold Ahlstrom and were found at the Fenton Historical Society in Jamestown, NY. In the study of interurban lines, there were many facets and areas of interest. My specialty was always the rolling stock, what the company had, and the use and scheduling of same.…
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140 Years of Railroad History in East Aurora
The month of January marked an important milestone in the history of East Aurora, the 140th anniversary of the beginning of railroad service to the village. While the railroad may not seem as significant in the town’s history as the Roycroft or Fisher-Price Toys, it played an important role in transforming East Aurora from a…
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Old Route of the Erie Railroad
From a paper produced by William J. McNamara, April 29, 1956; provided by the Historical Society of Dunkirk, New York; comments added by Roy A. Davis, Railroad Vice President, Historical Society of Dunkirk, NY; edited by Cheryl Lopanik, September 28, 1997. The construction of the New York, Lake Erie and Western Railroad from Dunkirk, New…
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The Renaming of Murray Station
“A few months ago, Miss Irene Gibson called me to find out if I knew when Murray Station became Fancher. An official had received a letter asking the question, but could find no answer. I started digging. “Landmarks, 1894, described Murray Station as ‘a rural hamlet on the N.Y.C. & H.R.R. a few miles west…
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Chautauqua Traction Line Was Active Means Of Transportation In Early 1900’s
An article from a railroad historian about the Chautauqua Traction company and railroading around Westfield and Mayville, NY. He uses a lot of acronyms, including “C. T.” – Chautauqua Traction Company, “J. W.” – the Jamestown, Westfield and Northwestern Railroad, and “B. & L. E.” – the Buffalo and Lake Erie traction company. WESTFIELD –…
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Freight Derailment in Allegany
MANGLED CARS of an 18-car pileup blocked the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad line just west of the S. 1st St. crossing in Allegany. About 150 feet of track also was torn up as the 103-car freight derailed. Cause of the Saturday morning crash still is being investigated. Surgical gauze, beer, steel, sugar and a tank car of…
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E-L Railroad Relocation is Big Job
This undated scan of an article from an unidentified newspaper describes the relocation of the Erie Lackawanna Railroad tracks between Red House and Steamburg, New York. Source: Scan of article posted on Facebook.
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Planned Railroad Through Zoar Valley Started 97 Years Ago
Bob Holbrook relates that his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. McDuffy, lived on South Hill, Otto, and that in 1864 his grandfather helped to build shanties to house the Irish immigrants who worked on the railroad. Bob claims that before the timber was cut the almost finished right-of-way through the woods was a delightful place for…
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Erie Speeds Repairs on Wrecked Bridge
Source: Gowanda News. Gowanda, NY. October 20, 1955. Provided by Phil Palen